A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a sub-network of storage devices that are shared with 1 yet another more than a higher-speed network connection. Though operating at slower speeds and offering reduced throughput than Fibre Channel, iSCSI uses standard networking gear, can operate more than long distance for remote backup, and is effortless for network administrators to recognize and handle.
There are a lot of distinctive types of NAS devices on the market place, and some are much more sophisticated than other folks, but typically speaking, a NAS device is an appliance that connects to the network by means of one particular or far more Ethernet cables.
In most genuine-globe settings, a SAN will incorporate many distinctive switches, storage devices and servers, and it will probably also involve routers, bridges and gateways to extend the SAN more than large regions and to connect to other parts of the information center network.
Extra information safety considerations are also needed for NAS and SAN setups, as information and facts is being transmitted by way of a network that potentially includes design and style flaws, safety exploits and other vulnerabilities that may perhaps not exist in a DAS setup.
For a extra complete report on the financial characteristcis of SANs, please see our current study, Reassessing Storage Area Network Economics , which delivers an evaluation of SAN adoption prices, return on investment experiences, and the total cost of ownership outcomes, primarily based on our survey of over 200 data centers.
